Shiftable body truck



July 12, 1932 R. A, FONTAINE SHIFTABLE BODY TRUCK Filed Sepb. 25, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l July 12- 1932 R. A. FONTAINE SHIFTABLE BODY TRUCK Filed Sept. 25, 1929 l4 Sheets-Sheet 2 july 12, 1932. R. A. FONTAINE SHIFTABLE BODY TRUCK Filed Sept. 25,A 1929 4 sheets-sheet 3 July 12, 1932. R. A. FoNTAlNE SHIFTABLE BODY TRUCK 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 25. 1929 www.

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Patented July .12, 1932 letame i Renner A. y FONTAINE, vor` nanrmsvILLEjvlIGiA- ,g

- Application med september 25, Y1929'.A seriaiNo. 395170.

The invention relates to trucks for chan--y dling materials, particularly bricks andthe" like, and has for its vgene'zralobject the provision of a .truck having a movably mounted body with operating means thereforvWell,

adapted for facilitating the loading and 11nyloading'of building orrother materials.

An important vobject ofthe invention Vis to provide a truck of this characterin Whichthe body mounting is of such character Vthat thev body may be .deposited upon a higher level than thatupon which the truck .Wheels are standing.

Another object ofthe inventionis copre- V vide a truck equipped with novel stop means for limiting` thelowering movement `:of the body in accordance .with surfacefconditions, the degree ofiinlation ofthe truck tires, etc.,

so as to prevent the Vbody from Vcoming intoV the groundzor other surviolent contact with face. i i f A still further objectisto provide a truck in which the body is mounted upon a :cradle t and slidable with respect thereto* Yand in which the cradle is pivoted and slida-blewithg respect to the truck frame whereby the shiftof the body :Eromcarrying to unloading.

or from loading tocarrying position may be readily effected. L

Another object of theinvention is l-to provide aV truck inivhich the construction and mounting of the body carrying cradle arc such as to prevent lateral displacement with respect to the supportingframe and the :antifriction means mounted therein.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a truck having movably mountedV booms along which the vcradle may move and` whichl will operate to `guide the body during shifting' thereof from carrying to loading or unloading position.

Another obj ect is to provide a deviceof this character in which there is a. cable and Windlass mechanism Aassociated with the booms Y for eiecting movement of the bod position to another `by powe'rcmeans.

Another specific objectis tto-provide altrecit-y oi this type in which the connectionzof vtheL power operated body moving means `with the t body is at such a locationastto eifectiraisingiy from one of the center of gravityV load initial application ,of v:force ier; -drawingthe-r body onto thetruck.;v

,A further object isgtoproyide I Y .Whichthe lbooms are AsWingable; and which means is prov.idedfor` supporting these:`

l booms when in normal jorkyhoriz/ont'al-position@;

.ble,. positive in action,y ecient andi durable p in service, and a general improvement inthe art.

v VTo the attainment of foregoing-'and other objects andadvaritages, .the invention preferably -c msists in the. details'fo construe- Y tion y and the arrangement and. .combination of'partsftoV 'behereinatter more fully de-v scribed and' claimed, Y and illustrated Jin theaccompanying drawings in which :4

Figure 1 Vis a Sietsema@ l or "the dvi'cjf Y with the body shown in normal'orloaclcar@ ryingposition,VJK j p L f Y Figure @is a .similar view illustrating the act of unloading and setting thebody Ona'4 Asurface higher thanthatfupon yv'hichtlclelzn truck Wheels rest,- f

Figure' is a the i asthat upon which the `,Wheels rest', y

Figure l is aplan view;

act of depositing the body onto the same level Y Ffgfure 5V is a vertical cross section taken on Y the linea-576i Figure 4 n ,Eigure 6 is avertical cross'sectional viewy taken. on the line-- of Figure-4,

taken on the'line 7 7l ot Figure n g v`Referring-more particularly tothe drawings I have shown a portion of a motor truckr A which carriesfor' towhich is applied my anismntherefor. f The'vtruck isjrepresented ,as

Figur-e Tis avertical longitudinal section.; Y

novel body :cron/struction andfoperating. mech# ;V

Yhaving the` usual;chassis` mounted 4upon; l Y Wheels-.Band,ofcourse embodying arnotor,V c1100.

ranged with their open sides upwardly and containing, each, a seriesof rollers 11`journaled in any preferred manner. .At their forward ends these channel bars are secured by any suitable meansto the rear angle bar 12 of a frame structure which includes a forward angle bar 13 'and a plurality of' upv standing brackets 14- through'which is journaled a shaft 15 extending into lay transmission box 16 containing mechanism, not shown, for driving the shaft 15 in a selected direction. lThe control means and gear mechanismin this casing 16 maybe, if desired, constructed in 'accordance with what is disclosed'in either or both of my prior Patents, No. 1,626,229for transmission mechanism granted April 26, 1927 and No.- j1,637,'338 for power hoist granted August 2,

1927. There is shown protruding vfrom this casing 16 a control lever-1,7 for the purpose ofcontrolling the 'clutching of the shaft15` to Awhatever drive is provided and for controlling the direction of rotation of the shaft f 15- At their rear ends the'` channel bars 10 are mounted and secured upon a cross bar 18.

Y J ournaled upon the projecting ends of the shaft 15 are ybrackets 19 which `may fbe U- shapedand which straddle winding drums 2O fast onthe shaft. Thesebrackets constitute mountingsforthe forward ends ofbooms 21 which are capable ofvertioal swinging Vmovement about the shaft` 15 as an axis. Ordinarily these booms aresu'pport'ed in horizontal position by bracket arms 22 on the j outer ends of a transverse rod 23 which extendsl through the rear ends of the channel bars 10 and through angle brackets 24 mounted on the cross bar 18. This rod 28 may constitute the journal for the two rearmost rollers 11.*"y q f V c.

The main or foundation part of' the structure also includes Ts y25 rotatably engaged upon the rod 23 between the brackets 24and the channel bars 10, it being preferableto provide a spacing sleeve 26 surrounding the rod 23 between the brackets 24 for maintaining ,the parts in theproper relation. The Ts 25 carry guide rods 2.7 which project forwardly and whichV are connected at their* front ends by a` transverse bar-orstrip 28 l Y held in place in any desired manner.

The'cradle is designated generally by the" numeral 29 and 'is shownyascomprising aV pairA of -I-bars '30 resting upon the rollers V11.

and connected at their rear ends by a trans- L-shape and which has upturned end portions 32. The bars 30 arealso connected near their forward ends by a bar 33 likewise provided with upturned ends 34 similar to the ends 32. At the forward extremities of the bars 30 l have shown an inverted L-shaped transversely arrangedlbar 35 secured thereto and carrying an L-shaped or angle bar 36 ony which are supporting elements 37 through which extends a transverse rod or pipe 38 Von thev ends of which are upstanding arms 39 carrying suitably journaled rollers 4() vtravelling along the booms 21.

The means for moving the cradle structure 29 forwardly and rearwardly is shown as comprising'cables 41 which are trained about pulleysv .42 at the rear ends of the booms 21 by whatever drive mechanism is provided in the casing .16 the cables41 will be caused to move-for sliding the cradle bodily forwardly or rearwardly Valong the frame, friction being reduced owing totheprovision of the rollers 11. 'i

Located between and slidable withV respect to the bars 30 ofthe cradle is a carriage 45 carrying at itsrbottom, as by means of` U-bolts 46,. sleeve 47 slidable upon the respective guiderods 27.` The purpose of this carriage is to limit rearward sliding movement ofthe cradle 29 under certain circum- ICO stances and for this reason T provide angular stops 48 disposed againstthe inner sides of the bars 3G `and held Ainany selected position A as Vby means of bolts 49 passing through the p respective stops and through the proper ones ofl selected holes 49a in the bars 30. As mentioned above, Vthe rearward movement of the cradle is'hmitedby engagement of the stops 48 with the carriage 45 and movement of the of the bars 30, combined with the engagement of the sleeve 47 carried by the carriage with the guides 27,-it will be apparent that By virtue ofthe presence of the carriage 45 which has its ends adjacent the inner faces any movement of the cradle transversely of the frame will be prevented. This means f that'the cradle cannotslip ofrom the antifriction rollers 11. f f

' The body itself is designated by are liu-1l meral 50 and isformed preferably as a rectangular box-like structure with an open 'i top and with its bottom, or rear end dependv ing upon the position in which it is, equipped with shoes 51 and 52,. the latter projecting Vbeyond the bottom' or back of the body with said projecting portion curved.` There are two of each type of'shoe and the' two desig.

nated at V52 serve the-purpose of rockers. This oted, at 54,'hooks `55 which are adapted tov and 33 of the cradle and `w'ith'the hooks 55 Y engaged over the transverse member 38, allas l ot. The body remains attached to thetruck Y v 1,866,640? Y body rests upon" theicradle,ithat to'fsay upon the bars 31 and 33when in travelling position and is prevented from laterali-"dis" placement by the upturned ends 32y and 34VT of the bars. 'Mounted onthe `sidesof the" body are brackets 53 within which `are pivengage over the transverse rod or pipe38 under normal conditions but which-are dis-k engageable therefrom to permit detachment ofV the body when such is desired. While the body is capablerof handling building material, as above stated, it isparticularly adapted for use in handling stacks of bricks or building'blocks" arranged in similar formation, the idea Vbeirigthat stacks of bricks'may l be loaded,transportedand subsequently' unloaded while remaining intact,- thisbein'g thel most modern and approve'dway." y

In the operation 'g of the device, it will be seen that under normal circumstances, that is clearlyuillustrated inFigure 1. At'such a Atime the cradle 29 is atl its forwardinost position where it is held'by the tension on the 1 cable`s41. When itis desired to deposit the load upon the ground or other surface, the drive mechanism within the casing 16 is operated for rotating the-shaft 15 and consequent- Y' lv the ,drums 20. v'Ihisrotation inthe proper Other circumstances and conditions will readlviliyfsugg'est themselves. e ing operations it will 'be 'observed that the direction will'c'aus'e the lower stretches ofthe ing draggedl rearwardly also until the stops 48 engageagainst the front of the carriage 45.; The cradle, carrying the body, together withV the carriage will then move rearwardly anadbars10,the body and cradlefwill 'tilt upon the transverse member 23 as an axis andwill swing downwardly so that the-shoes 52 will engage'theground or other'surface. As'this movement occurs the booms21 will ofcourse swing upwardly about the shaft 15 as a pivas the hooks 55 are" engaged over lthe trans# versemember 38. As the body tilts down- Wardly it is apparent that the carriage 45! will strike against the Ts 25'so that the down-V ward sliding andftiltingv movement of Vthe Y body Vwill beV limited, thisfeature being of importan ce asit prevents violent contact'of the shoesvk 52 with the grou'ndfor'other surface.` As the: tilting continues and the Vbody Vassumestheiposition shown in full lines in Figure, it

is intended that the truck brakes be released `so that'theitruck mayroll back slightly tov permit the body to be deposited on theV ground in a vertical position` This will occur be- -ti'on with theshoes 51 `also engagingv the ground.' Thev hooks 55 may, then be dis-f engaged from'Y the transverse' member 38 if it is desired to'leave the'body surrounding the load.' `It` is `apparent vthat the loadV may be' dumped bythe simple expedient -of pushing` the bodyv over so that its open side or topwill bedisposed downwardly." i If ythebod'y vbe constructed, for instance, as shown inmy Pat' ent No; 1,736,074 granted November 19th, 1929, it may be'readily disengaged from about a stack of bricks or the like contained within it. The 'adjustability ofthestopsiS is important as these sto'ps will determine the point 'atwhich therearlshoes 52 will engage the' ground, it beingvlear that this point must .1

dependup'on the. degree -of'inlationofthe truck' tires and .the surface conditions 'where unloadingV is to be effected as' it is conceivable,y

kervthan that upon iwhiehthe truck wheels"I stand."

that the body may be easily deposited Onto a higher level-than that occupied by the truck.V Such a conditionoccursifa loadis to be de-J posited lonto a sidewalk --whil'eY the truck is standingin the street, or if unloading onto a f platform 'ati a* railroad' siding is desired.v

body simply tiltsbaekafter one edge rst InY all of theunload- Referring kto Figuref`2,itwill be observed Y. i

strikes the ground or other surface` the truck n l itselfmovingbodily backwards more or less slowly so as toy control thefmovement of the body lfrom tilted into upright position. Y

Loading is effected ina mannerv the reversev g i fof that-above described. In `such an instance the hooks fon the lbody/.are vengaged over the member 38 and the truck is moved rearwardly with the body inupright position.A Thezbodyy lmaythen, ifA constructedas :shown for eX-k ample in said allowed application, be moved into inclosingrelationrtoy a stack of bricks" or the like.` If loose'material isto be picked'`V up,thebody'canbelforced int-o it and conse- '-1 eitherinstance the"hoistingr-mechanism` is' operated towind the lower stretches of the quently Vbe partially or entirelyV lled. n Inv Y cablesvforwardlysothat the body will first Vbe tilted forwardly and then, together with the cradleybe drawn onto-the truck with the ncradle resting-.upon the rollers 11 in the i `channel barslO as described ,in connection ywith the normal position ofthe parts. A

feature tozbenoted lis thatwhen the body is tilted forwardly. from Yits upright position, 1

f preparatory. to loading .it onto the vtruck the vshifting of the center ofgravity ofthe body Ail() lto ' platform or other elevated/surface.

.- construction, should be readily apparent to one skilled in and load will operate to assist in the loading. action seth-at ,a less expenditure of power will be necessary than 1f such were not the case.

From the foregoing description and .a

i study .of the'. drawingsit will be apparent that l .have thus provided a simply constructed and yet-*highly V-eicient .trlciclr by means of which materials of various sorts, particularly bricks and the like either in stack or loose form, may be loaded,transported and unloaded or vice versa. Ample provision has been made to prevent undue .shock to the bodyand load when unloading and it has .also been made possible to unload readily .on'tlgla e parts have been so constructed, `arranged .and related as to prevent accidental displacement thereof at all, times. It is believedthat the.

operation and advantagesclaim;

` l. Ina truck, Athe combination ofmai-n` guide. bars, a cradle movablev longitudinally therealong, a hoisting mechanism. including booms pivot-ed atl theforward portion of .the

truck extending rearwardly, guide meansfon' the cradle engaging and travelling along the booms, and a removable body normally seated upon the cradleV and havingmeans detachably connected withV a portion ofthe guide means;

2. In a truck, mainV guide bars extending longitudinallyof the fra-me thereofga cradle v resting-upon and movable longitudinally of said bars, rearwardly extending booms pivoted at: their Vforward endsnear the-forward ends ofy said bars, means on the cradlepermanently engaging and travelling. along the booms., a winding mechanism including cables .extending along the booms and con-V nected with the cradle,-and aremovable body normally resting upon thev cradle. and having pivoted hook means detachably engaging the cradle.

3. In a truck, main guidev bars extending longitudinally of the-frame thereof, a cradle resting upon` and movable longitudinally of said bars and swingable with` respect thereto, rearwardly extending booms pivotedat their forward ends near thefforward ends -of said bars, means: on the cradle permanently en.- gaging and travelling along-the ljiooi'1:1Slav `along saidfguidestructure...

. leccese cradle, .a removable bodynormally resting v upon the cradle, securing elements detach ably connectjngthelbody with the cradle., and

means beneathandswingable with the cradle" and .slidable withr-espect theretofor limitingY its longitudinal'. movement.

hln altr-lick, mainguide bars 'extending"iL longitudinally-of the. frameV thereof, a cradle.

resting upon and movable longitudinally of said bars, rearwardly extending booms pivotedattheir forward ends `nearitlie forward ends` of said bars, means on the cradle permanentlyfengaging Y and trayelling along, :the booms,awin

ingjmechanism including .cables extending .along ,the booms and connectedl .with the cradle, a removablerbodynormallyresting upon thecradle, securing elements.;l

detachably connecting vthe Ybody .with ,the cradle, and means pivotedand movable lon-A` gitudinally with respect tothe bars and AVcooperating with the .cradlefory `limiting rear-.e

ward movement thereof,

5. In a truck', aframe.

A Anmlnding i longitu'-,` dinally extendin Ymain bars, a cradle mov- I ablelongitudin ly` along said bars, 'booms j' pivotedonthe frame near the forward ends*L of.; said bars andcarrying pulleys, a .power riven windlass mechanism including drums,

'esc

cableswrapped about said drums and enay gaged aboutV said ,pulleys rand connected with `the forward endfof thecradle, means on the forward .end of the cradle engagingandtrav-f ica moved a Vbody normally.resting `upon theVv cradle .and 'carrying Vmeans. detachably' engageable withthe forward end of the cradle,r pivoted. guide, means for the cradle, and co= acting means ontlie. `guide means4V and cradle* for limitinglongitudinal movement ofthe latter.l i .l '6. In a truck., La frame 4including longituff. dinally extending main bars, av cradle movable longitudinally along said bars, booms pivoted ontheframe near the` forward ends Yofsaid Y ellng along the booms .when the cradle.. is

bars and carrying pulleys, al power Idriven v, wmdlass mechanlsm mcludmgdrums, cables 'Wrapped' .aboutsaid VVdrums -1 and. engaged about said pulleys and-.connectedwith the,

forward endof the.. cradle, means on the forwardiend of the cradleengaging and travel- Y ling along the booms when the "cradle moved, a body .normally restingV upon the the `cradle with respect to .said bars, coun` prising a guide. structureycarried by the frame and located. between said. bars, and a 'frame structure confinedby the cradle. and slidablef 7. In a truck, a frame includingil'ongitu- Vdinally extendingffmainv bars,.acradle in-- cluding spaced, beams movable` longitudinal-Vr a 1y of said bars,'boomspivoted; onr the frame nally extending Vmain bars, aV cradle movable longitudinally along said bars, booms piv` oted on theframe near the forwardv ends'.

of said bars and carrying pulleys, a power driven windlass mechanism including drums,

. cables wrapped about said drums and engaged about said pulleys and connected with. the forward end of the cradle, means o n lthe forward end of thecradle engaging and travi elling along the booms when the cradle4 is moved, a body normally resting upon the cradle and carrying means -detachably engageable with the forward end of the cradle, guide means pivoted at the rear ends of said bars, means slidable'along said guide means, and stop means on the cradle engageable with said last named means.

9. In a truck, a frame including longitudinally extending main bars, a cradle movable longitudinally along said bars, booms pivoted on the frame near the forward ends of said bars and carrying pulleys, a power driven windlass mechanism including drums,

Vcables wrapped about said drums and engaged about said pulleys and'connected with the forward end of the cradle, means on the forward end of the cradle engaging and trav-VV elling along the booms when the cradle isv -moVed, a body normally resting 'upon' the cradle and carrying means detachably engageable with the forward end of the cradle, guide means pivoted at the rear ends of said bars, means slidable along said guide means, and stop means on the cradle engageable with. said last named means, saidV stop means being adjustable for limiting the degree of downward and rearward movement of the cradle and body.

10. In a truck, a frame including longitudinally extendingmain bars, a cradle slidable along said bars, a boom structure npivoted; near the forward ends of said'bars, means atl the forward end of the cradle'engaging and movable along the booms, means connected with the cradle forrmoving thesame longitudinally, a body normally resting upon the'y cradle. and carrying means detachably engaged therewith for normally holding the body upon the cradle, guide means pivoted at the rear Vends ofsaidbars,a carriage slidable along` said guide means, andstop means" on the cradle engageable with saidfcarriage. Y

111. In: a truck, a frame including'lon'gituf dinally extending main bars, a cradleslidable' along said bars, a boom structure piv-l oted near the forward ends of said'bars, means atrthe forward end. of the 'cradle engaging i and movable" along the... booms, means con '75", v longitudinally, a body normallyresting upon d i the cradleand carrying meansdetachablyV nected with the cradle formoving the same engaged therewith for normally V*holding the body upon thecradle, guide means pivoted at the rear ends of Laid bars, a A'carriage lslidablealongsaid guide means, stop lmeans on the cradle engageable with'said carriage, and means for securing Athezstop means atdider# ent' selected positions in the length* of, the cradle-forvarying the eXtentof rearward ni downward movement ofthe cradle and 112.. a truck, a frame including longitud-:l f. dinal'ly extending channel bars-.containing anti-friction rollers, a' cradle movable longitudinally of said bars and engaging upon said-f rollers, a shaft journaled transversely ofthe frame 4near the*V forward fends of., saidbars and provided Vwith a power transmission. mechanism and equipped with :windingdrums, boomspivoted uponsaid shaft and" carrying pulleys, means on theicradleengagas. o

ing and travelling along the booms when `the cradleris moved,cables engaged about the drums and -pulleysand connected withf the] roo forward end of thev cradle for`moving the Y same,a body normally resting upon and having `means. detachably connecting` vitf'with the l cradle, and movable means carried bysaid frame andA cooperating with the cradle `v for limiting rearward movement thereof and ventingv lateral displacement. f

tudinally of said bars and engaging upon said pre# j lklnartruck, Ya'frame including l'ongituf i rollers, a shaftvjournaled transversely of y.the-V` frame near 'theforward ends of-said bars and provided-with av power transmissionvmecha y nism andequipped fwith winding drums, booms gpivoted. uponsaid shaft and carrying pulleys,y means on thecradle engaging andA travelling alongV the -booms when the cradle end of the cradle for moving,.the same, a.

' is moved, cables engaged about the-druin's and pulleysand connectedwiththe frward- Y means .detachablyconnecting itwith, thejcra-.i

dle, `and s'lidable means pivoted at the .rear

end ofthe frame andengageablebythecra-V dlefor limiting rearward movement thereofv fand guiding itand thebody during tiltingy movement downwardly. L

14. vIn, a truck, a frame se d 1 antigfriction rollers, av cradle movable longitudinally of said barsiand engaging upon said rollers, a shaft journaled transversely of the frame near the Vforward ends ofy saidbars andy provided with aA power transmission mechanismr and equipped with -winding drums, booms pivoted upon said shaft and carrying pulleys, means on the cradle engag-V ing and travelling along the booms when the soi cradle is moved, cables engaged about the drums-= and pulleys'and connected with the .15; In a. truck includingmain ba-rs`a cra-v dlemovable therealong and means for mov'-A vinggthe cradle longitudinally, a bodyon thecradledetachably connected therewith, guide rods-pivoted at'the rear end of the truck and extending longitudinally thereof, a carriage slid'able along said guide rods, and stop means n on1 the cradle engageable with said carriage.

16. In a truck including main bars, a cradile movable therealongfand means, for movingthe cradle longitudinally, a body on the cradle det-achably connected therewith, guide rods pivotedj atthe rear end of the truckand extendinglongitudinally thereof, a carriage sl-idablealong said guide rods, and stop means Von-v the cradle engageable with *saidv carnage,

the cradle including sidebars and said,V carriage traversing the space between said side bars Vand operating toprevent lateral; shifts.

ing-01S the cradle with respect to fthefmain bars, v

1T; In a truck -incl'udinga frame, a cradle movable therealong, means'for moving the cradle'longitudinally thereof, a body on` the vcradle 4detachably connected with' the forl rearward: movement;

meansr` im .f Y 19.v In a truck, a frame including main bars, a cradleslidable alonfr'the main bars, abody supported by the; cra le and detachably con# neet-ed therewith, adjustable stopmeans'on the cradle, means: slidableand pivotally supported with` respect to the` frame disposed in the. path of trave-ll of and engagealble by said stop `means forlimiting rearward 'movement ofv the cradle.

;,Inl a-truck;4 a frame, a cradleslidable therealong, a body supported bythe cradle and detachabliy connected therewith, adjustable stop. means-on. the cradle, guide means pivoted withy respect to said frame, other stop means slidableon said guide means disposed' in the path of travel ofr and engageable by said first named stop-means for limiting' rear ward movement ofthe cradle, said last named means also cooperating withl the lsides of the' cradle; to prevent' vlate-ralE displacement thereof and toguide i't during its movement.-

of said lsecond named I'n testimony whereof I aiiix my signature'.` c

ROBERT A. FQNTAINE.

roi

ward end thereof, means pivoted atfthe rear of said frame and' movable longitudinally with respect thereto and locatedI beneath the cradle-,and means on the cradle engageable witl'r said'- means for limiting the c rearward movement ofthe cradle;

V18.; Infatr'uck including a frame, a cradle movable therealong, means for moving the cradle longitudinally thereof, abody on theV cradle detachably connectedwiththe forward'` end'4 thereof, means pivoted at' the rear. of said fra-mead movableV longitudinally with` respect thereto and located bene'aththe cra? dle, means onthe cradle engageable with saidVA means for-limiting theY rearwardmovement, of thecradle; -'and `means-Vfor!limiting the i la 

